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Ferrari 150 Italia Tests at Jerez

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Alonso out in the Spanish sun for a weekend of testing.

By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari-Media

Thursday and Friday 10-11 February, 2011 Massa Up
Andalusian circuit of Jerez de la Frontera; F1 testing take two. Felipe Massa started testing in the early morning at the wheel of of his Ferrari F150 Italia. The Brazilian driver’s program has the same objectives as last week at Valencia; finding the best set-up for the car, increasing understanding of the Pirelli tyres behaviour, aerodynamic testing and starts.
[Read more…] about Ferrari 150 Italia Tests at Jerez

Ferrari Completes First Week of Testing in Valencia

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Alonso tries out the new car at Valenica.

By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari-Media


After three days of testing on Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, the team returned to Maranello to analyzing the data collected.

Fernando Alonso gave the F150 its official track debut; on February 1st the Spanish driver worked mainly on general car development and on gaining further understanding of the Pirelli tires. Alonso and the F150 completed 98 laps without any significant technical problems.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Completes First Week of Testing in Valencia

This Week, of Interest: Alfa Museum in Jeopardy

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Petition to Save the Alfa Museum at Arese—Do it NOW

If you are already aware of this situation, please click here to sign the petition: www.alfaromeoarese.com

Perhaps you’ve heard some rumors of the fate of the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, to the effect that Fiat plans to tear down the building and create a different structure—and not a new museum. This would in effect get around the recent government edict to protect the Alfa Museum and the cars in the collection, as the edict did not mention the building itself. The fate of the cars in the Museum, which itself would no longer exist physically, would then be in jeopardy, sold, or moved to Turin rather than remain in their native city.

We had our man in Milan, Roberto Motta, check out the story. He is his report:

Fiat is attempting to change the constraint of the Ministry of Culture for the Protection of the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum and Archives annex. Their apparent goal would be to tear down the building in which the historic Alfas are housed. (Read our article about Saving the Museum)

The ongoing attempt by FIAT is to make a change to the proviso which would allow the sale of some of the jewels now in the Museum in Arese; or provide the ability to sell the whole property and move the remaining cars to Turin. This would mean that a priceless national heritage would be eradicated from its historical context and then dismember what remains, something that already happened to the Lancia cars. This is precisely what most enthusiasts and the city of Milan and Arese do not wish to happen!

To avoid this, the Alfa Romeo Club Milan has created a blog, which is monitored constantly in order to collect the signatures of fans who want to keep the archive and museum at the site of Arese.

Heads UP…

It is vitally important that we all react quickly for at end of January, the Ministry of Culture will check the objections and requests for amendments. Then the Council of Ministers shall issue the decree after examining the reasons of those who have “promoted” the initiative to recognize the interest of national historic structure in Milan. So your signature is needed before that time!

To express your opinion, it is not necessary to subscribe to the blog: just post a comment. The homepage of the blog is www.alfaromeoarese.com There are over 500 signatures so far, but VeloceToday can easily add thousands of more signatures if our readers respond, so please follow the below instructions!

How to sign the petition:

Click on the site, find “commenti” at the lower right side of the grey box. There will be a number before the word commenti indicating the number of comments. Click on that. Scroll down all the way to the end of the comments section to see the comments box. Enter your comment, (make it brief and to the point) and in the box below which says “Comment Come”, select ‘Anonimo’ and hit “Posta Commento.” A screen will come up with a visual id script, enter that and your message will be posted. It may take a minute or two but it will work, and it is important. Remember if send as anonymous (anonimo) you may want to put your name in the text box.

FERRARI FF: A NEW FAMILY CAR

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By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari-Media – Giovanni Gastel

The new Prancing Horse car is a revolutionary four-seater, four-wheel drive and, of course, is powered by an exceptional V12 engine

Ferrari has revealed the first three images of the new FF, the most powerful and versatile four-seater ever built by Ferrari, and the first Prancing Horse four-wheel drive. The new FF, for Ferrari Four, is an entirely new GT designed by Pininfarina under the direction of Ferrari’s own chief designer, Flavio Manzoni.
[Read more…] about FERRARI FF: A NEW FAMILY CAR

And the Monte Winner is…Peugeot 207 S 2000

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Once in the snow, the game changed for Bouffier.

By Roberto Motta
Photos by Peugeot-media and Renault communication

This year, Peugeot badly wanted to win the centenary Monte, and they succeeded! The 2011 Rallye Monte-Carlo was won by Bouffier/Panseri at the wheel of the 207 S2000.

After the first stage, the 207 S2000 and the Peugeot France driver controlled the rally and went on to take the win.

“At the beginning, I wasn’t the fastest driver on this rally which was never easy. This is the best win of my career,” said Bryan Bouffier. “I wonder whether I will ever experience anything like this again. Winning the Monte Carlo is magic!”
[Read more…] about And the Monte Winner is…Peugeot 207 S 2000

First Ferrari Challenge, Now the Maserati MC GT Stradale

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Credit Maserti/Mario Chiarappa

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful model in the company’s range, and promises to match great performance with supreme refinement

By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy Maserati/Mario Chiarappa

While the Ferrari 458 Challenge had its world debut at the Bologna Motor on December 2nd, 2010, a few meters away Maserati presented is new car, the GranTurismo MC Stradale. The Stradale was first presented at the Paris Auto Show two months earlier.
[Read more…] about First Ferrari Challenge, Now the Maserati MC GT Stradale

The Renault DeZir: The Emotional Concept Car

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Photo courtesy Renault Communications

Words by Roberto Motta
Photos by Renault Communications

Last week we brought you a bit of news about Renault’s plans for the new range of electric cars to go on sale in mid-2011.

This week, we present the DeZir electric concept car, first seen at the Paris Auto show in October 2010. The Z is for zero emissions, and the name is pronounced desire, even in French. And it is desirable—along with the Citroen Survolt certainly one of the most interesting and attractive concept cars we’ve seen in a long time. In the past few years, it seems that the French have taken the lead in both styling exercises and pushing the envelope on diesel and electric forms of propulsion.
[Read more…] about The Renault DeZir: The Emotional Concept Car

Designing the DeZir

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Photos courtesy Renault Communications

By Staff

Photos courtesy Renualt Communications

Despite computer technology and CADs, the design and construction of a prototype or show car is still a matter of art and heart. Clay is still clay, craftsman still create the chassis by hand, and stylists still do their magic. These recent photos showing the development of the fantastic DeZir electric car seem to reinforce those thoughts. Enjoy.

Photo courtesy Renault Communications


[Read more…] about Designing the DeZir

Premium Subscription Article: From Showcar to Turbine

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This interview with Gilda’s owner Scott Grundfor is the first in a series of Premium articles about Gilda, the car, the legend and the designer.

By Roberto Motta

Scott Grundfor, left, confers with another turbine enthusiast Jay Leno.

Scott Grundfor is the CEO of Scott Grundfor Company, a firm devoted to the conservation, restoration and sales of classic cars. Located in Arroyo Grande, California, Grundfor has garnered 34 Best in Show awards, primarily with Mercedes Benz automobiles. In the past five years, he acquired several Ghia showcars, among them the 1955 Ghia “Gilda” showcar which is our feature.

Roberto Motta has been involved researching turbine powered cars and was very interested in the installation and drivability of the Gilda turbine project. He conducted this interview with Scott Grundfor in 2010 for VeloceToday.

Tell us about how you found the car.
I was offered Gilda (Chassis 9969 Carrozzeria Ghia) in 2005 when the car left the Blackhawk Museum. I wanted it because of its important history in automobile design and because I think it is beautiful. Gilda was offered to me by a broker, Mike Fairbairn, from RM Classic in Chattam Canada, who knew I had an interest in these special show cars.

1955 Brochure with surprisingly similar greenhouse to the Alfa B.A.T.s

We understand you have an interesting collection.
Cars of interest to VeloceToday readers include a 1965 Citroen ID 19; 1973 Ford Ghia Mini Max Concept; 1979 Ford (Ghia) Probe I Concept; 1982 Ghia Brezza Concept; 1982 Ghia Barchetta Concept; 1984 Ghia Pockar Concept; 1985 Ghia Shuttler Concept; 1985 Ford (Ghia) Probe V Concept.

In what condition was the car when you purchased it and did it have the OSCA engine at that time? [Read more…] about Premium Subscription Article: From Showcar to Turbine

Celebrating Fifty Years of the Renault R4

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1963, going to the Opera

by Roberto Motta

Photos: Renault communication- RENAULT INTERNAL/PRESS

You may think this sad, funny, or just a sign of the times. If you Google “Renault R4”, there will be more results than if you Googled “Brigit Bardot”. [ PS: Brigitte, you have been redeemed. Reader Matthew Boyer says, “That’s only because you spelled Brigitte Bardot wrong. 1.5M hits for Renault R4 vs. 2.3M for BB.” Our faith in lechery has been restored–Ed.]

But the old R4 and its familiar French silhouette still turn heads like Bardot did in the early sixties. Not the most curvaceous of bodies, a half-century since its introduction in 1961, its fans still love the R4, like a favorite pair of blue jeans. And the R4 is the object of obsession for many collectors. Rare in the U.S.—it was never imported here—it was at least famous for its performance in the movie “Romancing the Stone” with Michael Douglas and Danny Devito.

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New Renault Electrics–Good Enough to Steal

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Renault's new line of electric cars will soon be on the streets of the city of light.

Industrial espionage uncovered as Renault launches new line of electrics

News from Renault Media and Roberto Motta
Photos Renault Media

Renault President Christian Husson has suspended three senior managers after an investigation into the possible leaking of electric vehicle secrets to rivals. “The suspension of three group executives was decided following an investigation launched by the Renault group’s compliance committee. The procedure is fully standardized, highly rigorous and entirely in line with the ethical principles of our Group,” Husson said in a statement dated January 6th.
[Read more…] about New Renault Electrics–Good Enough to Steal

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